ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-666

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Route reference: Part 1 application posted on 7 November 2014

Ottawa, 19 December 2014

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Across Canada

Application 2014-1108-2

Première Chaîne, Espace Musique, Radio One and Radio 2 networks and stations - Licence amendment  

  1. The Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to amend the broadcasting licences for the following radio programming undertakings (networks and stations) by extending the deadline for implementing a public alerting system from 31 December 2014 to 31 March 2015, which is the date by which most other broadcasters must broadcast such alerts (see Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2014-444):

    • Première Chaîne;

    • Espace Musique;

    • Radio One; and

    • Radio 2.

  2. The Commission received an intervention supporting this application by Pelmorex Communications Inc. (Pelmorex), which operates the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination (NAAD) System.

  3. The CBC explained that it was in the public interest that all broadcasters, distributors and video-on-demand undertakings have the same implementation date for the broadcast of emergency alert messages as this will allow for an industry-wide coordinated national consumer education program as contemplated in Broadcasting Decision 2011-438. The CBC indicated that it had installed and was currently testing the necessary equipment.

  4. In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2014-444, the Commission directed Pelmorex to begin its public education campaign in the spring of 2015. The Commission agrees with the CBC that a uniform launch date for emergency alerting across the industry will reduce confusion and result in a smoother education campaign. Accordingly, the Commission amends the broadcasting licences for the above-noted undertakings by replacing condition of licence 5 as set out in Appendix 4 to Broadcasting Decision 2013-263 with the following condition of licence:

    By no later than 31 March 2015, the licensee shall implement a public alerting system on all the licensee’s radio stations which will immediately broadcast any emergency alert received from the NAAD System on all the licensee’s originating stations and associated repeaters that serve the area targeted by the alert, provided that the alert is designated for immediate broadcast by the issuing authority, is received in the language of the originating station and contains audio content.

Secretary General

Related documents

*This decision is to be appended to each licence.

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